by Earth Elemental 99, with Martin Maenza
As the evening sky over Houma became a deeper shade of blue, Abby Cable found herself lost in thought. The events of the day had left her with a mix of excitement and cautious hope. She was startled out of her reverie when she heard a knock at her door. Rising from her chair, she rushed to answer it, her heart racing.
Nearby, her friend Chester Williams rose from his seat in curiosity. “Who’s at the door, Abby?” he inquired, peering over his Ben Franklin spectacles. The middle-aged man with long, graying red hair and a mustache was clad in a colorful tie-dyed T-shirt with a peace symbol emblazoned upon it.
Opening the screen door, Abby came face to face with a young traveler wearing a coat, a flannel shirt, hiking books, and a backpack, his blue eyes looking at her with an equal mixture of surprise and recognition. “Hello,” he began warmly, “my name is…”
Before he could even finish his introduction, Abby interrupted him. “Adam Strange!” she exclaimed. Her eyes widened as she remembered their all-too-brief encounter at Grimoire Academy. “You’re the man I met on Grimoire Island, but you disappeared before you could tell me anything about Alec!” (*)
[(*) Editor’s note: See The Books of Magic: Ride a Black Horse.]
“Whoa…” gasped Chester, stepping up to the screen door to get a better look at the newcomer. “Far out, man.”
A playful smile tugged at the corners of Adam’s lips as he acknowledged Abby and Chester. “Yes, that was me,” he said. “And I have a personal message for you… from the Swamp Thing. Hopefully, this time I can deliver it properly.”
The revelation hit Abby like a bolt of lightning. She dropped the pen she had been using to fill out her acid rain reports for Chester and took a step back, her breath catching in her throat. “I knew it!” she exclaimed. “Alec is alive! Please, Chester, let him in! We need to talk about this!”
Having observed the exchange with open-mouthed astonishment, Chester quickly stepped aside to allow Adam Strange into the house. The space adventurer entered with a grateful smile. It was clear that he held Abby in high regard, knowing the importance of their meeting. He knew he owed a debt of gratitude to the earth elemental who had saved his home planet, Rann, from a devastating famine.
As Adam settled into his seat, he turned toward Abby, looking curious. “When I realized that I would be returning to Earth so soon, I assumed I would have to track you down on Grimoire Island once again. In fact, I only came here first on a hunch!” He grinned, shaking his head. “It sure looks like fate brought us together. Anyway, I never leave a task unfinished, especially one as important as this.”
Abby sighed, flush with emotion and relief. “Since the day we met, I’ve been working tirelessly to find a way off Grimoire Island,” she explained. “I had hope that Alec was alive, and I needed to be free from that place. Thankfully, I found an ally, someone I could call a friend — Mr. Belmont.”
Adam frowned and leaned forward, eager to hear more. “Are you on vacation, then?” he asked.
A derisive, humorless laugh escaped from Abby’s lips as she shook her head. “No,” she scoffed, angered at the idea. “I am completely done with that place. I will never go back there again.” She pursed her lips as she remembered the hardships and deception she had endured in the past few weeks. “That school turned out to be nothing like I thought,” she said, her voice beginning to quiver. “The people in charge — Gallowglass, Peel, and the others — are only concerned with themselves. The well-being of all those children under their care means nothing to them. Can you believe they even restricted our freedom to come and go?”
Listening attentively, Adam nodded solemnly as he replied, “I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that myself. Gallowglass was none too pleased when I showed up unannounced to see you.”
“Yes, I remember all too well,” Abby replied, sighing. “Anyways, if it wasn’t for Mr. Belmont’s help, I’d still be trapped on that wretched island. I no longer care about breaking a contract or reclaiming any owed wages. All I wanted was to escape that place and return home.”
Adam leaned against the windowsill, his gaze fixed upon the dark streets and swamps beyond. His expression grew grim as he remarked, “I’m sure your husband will be overjoyed to learn that you’re back home.”
“As am I!” Abby exclaimed, a little too forcefully. “I’ve had my fill of horror and madness in this lifetime. Never again. Never again!”
Adam looked at her uncertainly. “Hey, Abby, I’m sorry. I can see it’s still pretty raw. Maybe I’ve come at a bad time…”
“No, your timing is perfect!” Abby reached out and placed her hand on Adam’s shoulder. Looking into his eyes, she implored, “Now, please — tell me where on Earth Alec is!”
A grin tugged at Adam’s lips as he replied, “That’s the thing… Alec is alive, but he’s not on Earth! The Swamp Thing has been having adventures on other worlds.”
Looking at first astonished, Abby’s expression quickly became guarded. It took everything she had within her to resist her initial urge to throw the man out as a lunatic or a liar. She had met far too many of those ever since she had been made a spectacle of by the press for her relationship with the Swamp Thing. Adam seemed to be sincere, but she couldn’t know that for sure. Yielding to her better nature, she managed to compose herself enough to say, “Would you care for a cup of coffee, Mr. Strange?”
A few moments later, Abby was sipping her steaming cup of coffee, still contemplating Adam Strange’s fantastical claim about Alec being in outer space as she sat across from the adventurer at her dining room table. Chester had been engaging in some small talk with Adam while she prepared the coffee, doing her best to calm her tumultuous emotions, her mind now swirling with questions.
Adam gazed out at the marshlands encircling Houma. “Alec must yearn for those wetlands almost as much as he yearns for you, Abby. I hope he finds his way back to Earth soon.”
Growing impatient, Abby interjected, “Listen, Adam… I can sense other people’s emotions. It’s a bit like being psychic. To tell you the truth, it’s the only reason I’m still willing to hear you out after you presented me with such a crazy story. When that stalker Boston Brand approached me at Alec’s funeral in Gotham City, I had no reason to believe he was alive. Gallowglass tried to torment me with the pain of losing Alec, and I paid him no mind. Even the evidence Belmont presented seemed questionable — a blurry image in an old-looking book. But today, I finally started to trust Belmont’s sincerity. Still, I need solid, scientific proof that Alec can survive in outer space without a physical form, that he can thrive even without the Green to sustain him.”
“I understand your skepticism, Abby,” Adam replied. Opening his backpack, he revealed a gleaming collection of extraordinary high-tech gadgets. “That’s why I brought indisputable proof of my encounter with Swamp Thing on the planet Rann.” With great care, he laid out his Rannian helmet, jetpack, and blaster on the table, their sleek design shining in the dimly lit room.
Chester’s excitement couldn’t be contained as he exclaimed, “Whoa, man! Who’re you supposed to be, anyway — Buck Rogers? Flash Gordon? Captain Kirk? The Rocketeer?”
Adam grinned and said, “Just call me Adam. And, please, Mr. Williams, don’t touch the blaster — it has no safety switch.” His eyes shifted to the small device he was searching for, and he held it up. “Behold, the simulcast holographic projector. Sardath, the brilliant mind who first brought me to Rann, recorded the very council meeting in Ranagar where we discussed the solution to the centuries-long famine plaguing our planet. Alec also attended, though he was rather camera-shy.”
As Adam activated the holographic projector, images flickered and came to life, dancing before their astonished eyes. “Look! That’s Sardath,” he pointed eagerly, “And there’s my beloved wife, Alanna, as beautiful as ever! Ah-ha-ha-ha! And there, right next to me, is Alec! Can you see him? He’s the magnificent, red, cactus-like creature standing next to me.” Adam adjusted the zoom, enhancing the view of Alec. “There he is, closer now. Fascinating, isn’t he?”
Her tone sullen, Abby whispered, “He… sort of looks like him. But an alien plant? Really?”
Adam chuckled. “Yep. We recruited him to restore our ravaged environment, damaged by radiation. Our flora had all but perished, and Alec possessed the ability to revive it. In just a week, he created the first natural garden Rann had seen in decades. It was a miracle — a glimpse into our future! And as if that weren’t enough, Alanna brought even more joy into our lives as she announced her pregnancy! I’m going to be a father, and our world has finally found its salvation. All thanks to the Swamp Thing! As promised, I accompanied him here when he departed Rann for J-586. I trust that the Green Lantern called Medpyll was able to fix his damaged wavelength patterns. But I am certain beyond doubt that Alec wisely steered clear of Brainiac, who, at the time, was still at large in that very space sector.” (*)
[(*) Editor’s note: See The Swamp Thing: Deep Space: Meeting of the Minds.]
Abby looked at Adam with a furrowed brow, concern etched across her features. “So, that’s all that happened on Rann?” she asked.
Adam shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. You wouldn’t believe the unexpected threats we faced. There was this Thanagarian protection racket, led by none other than Keela Roo — an alien mob boss we called Lady Hawk. Picture this, Abby — a woman in a uniform nearly identical to Hawkwoman’s, complete with wings. She tried to undermine us, but we were armed with Alec’s ‘no strings attached’ brand of genuine kindness. You can’t say no to a saint, can you?”
Abby shook her head in disbelief. “But it sounds so dangerous. How did you manage to handle it?”
Adam sighed, his gaze turning distant. “Alec certainly had his fair share of close calls. There was this moment when Keela’s winged thug nearly killed him with a Thanagarian mace. Then Lady Hawk retaliated by using a neural scrambler on him. I had to step in and cover for him. I defeated Keela’s henchman first, and then I gave the boss-lady a taste of her own medicine. But she almost had me, Abby. Thankfully, one of Sardath’s liquid beasts came to the rescue and put an end to her reckless ambitions. She paid the price for her greed, drowning before she could ever lay her greedy hands on our Zeta-Beam technology.”
Abby gasped, her hand pressed against her mouth. “You risked your life for Alec?”
“In a way, it was just another day at the office for me,” Adam said with a shrug. In a more serious tone he added, “It’s what friends do, Abby. We stand by each other, no matter what. Alec wanted me to come here and tell you that he’s alive, and that he’s doing everything he can to come home to you. He didn’t want you to worry, so he sent me to tell you what happened to him. I hope I’ve won your trust, at least, Abby.”
Tears welled up in Abby’s eyes as hope began to shine through her despair. “Yes, Adam, I do. Despite how insane your story may sound, I believe you. I’d always hoped that Alec survived his assassination in Gotham City, and now I know he did. The DDI may have tried to murder him, but it’s comforting know that he’s out there somewhere in space, fighting to return. I know he’ll come back to me one day, and hopefully soon.”
Reaching out, Abby embraced him. “I can’t thank you enough for telling me about this, Adam.”
“Hey, that’s what friends are for,” replied the hero of Rann. “I’m glad I could help. I hope everything works out for you and Alec.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Abby kissed Adam’s cheek, a brief moment of affection that suddenly reminded him of something very important. “Alanna! The Zeta-Beam home to Rann! I need to get going,” he said, hastily collecting his items into his backpack. “Look, I hate to cut and run, but I can’t afford to miss my ride back.”
As they gathered their things and prepared to step outside, a young woman with wet red hair and a bathrobe appeared in the hallway. Startled and confused, she timidly approached them, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Abby let out a long sigh, enveloping the nervous woman in a comforting embrace. “Oh!” she said. “Adam? Before you head out, I want you to meet my dear friend, Elizabeth Tremayne. She’s been through so much in the past year, just like me. But she’s getting better now. Liz, I’d like you to meet Adam Strange. Hey, Liz? Can you look up and say hello to this wonderful gentleman for me?”
Liz Tremayne, once an author and journalist, gazed at the visitor with a tender and vulnerable expression. “You know Alec Holland? I once wrote a book about him. I-it wasn’t my best work, but a lot of people read it and liked it.”
“I remember you, Miss Tremayne,” Adam replied, taking her hand gently. “I was a huge fan of yours when you were on TV a few years back. In-Depth Magazine with Liz Tremayne was an exceptional show! Could I trouble you for an autograph?”
Liz’s voice turned shy and soft as she answered, “I suppose so.”
“Zeta-Beam, man,” Chester chimed in, reminding Adam. The clock struck midnight, emphasizing his point.
“Well, it seems Valentine’s Day is officially over for all you good folks here on Earth,” Adam remarked with a smile. “For me, the celebration doesn’t truly begin until I’m reunited with my beautiful Alanna! Maybe I’ll get an autograph from Miss Tremayne next time I visit Earth, if I can make it out here to Louisiana. It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you.” Adam bid his farewell to Liz, and Abby and Chester followed him outside.
Adam’s sturdy hiking boots, Chester’s casual tennis shoes, and Abby’s bare feet moved swiftly over the cold, wet grass, leading them several yards away from the house. Finally, Adam stopped their progress and unpacked his backpack as he ran to the center of the field.
“Okay, it’s time for me to go,” he declared. “Under normal circumstances, Zeta-Beams only land in the southern hemisphere of Earth. So, I have to be at the exact coordinates and the right time to return to my adopted home. This time, it’ll strike a lake in the mountains of Peru!”
“Goodbye, Adam Strange,” Abby shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’ll always be grateful for your kind visit! If you ever need anything, you can count on me.”
Adam’s expression softened as he replied, “Remember, Abby, there’s nothing more powerful in the entire universe than the love of two people who care about each other. And you don’t have to necessarily be a human being or even on your home planet to experience it! You just have to believe, and you’ll know for sure. Wait here for Alec. He will come back. You will be together again someday. Keep the faith, Abby.”
Glancing up at the Louisiana night sky, Adam adjusted his trusty jetpack. “I need to go. Got a Zeta-Beam to catch.” With that, Adam Strange blasted off into the skies, heading south at a terrific speed.
Chester’s eyes widened as he watched Adam Strange rocket off into the distance. “Whoa! Talk about a man from another planet! Man, I’m tellin’ you! And his asking Liz for an autograph? What a class act!”
“The man who just left us told me everything I needed to hear!” Abby exclaimed, holding her aging hippie friend close to her. Patting Chester Williams reassuringly on the back, she said, “Now that I’m safe at home with my friends, I have everything that I need. I can afford to be patient. I can wait for Alec to find his way home.”
Chester frowned with concern. “Say, Abs, is there any way the big guy knows you’re waiting for him? I mean, it’s gonna be an awful long trip.”
Abby grinned mischievously. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Ches! I sent Alec a special delivery message to outer space, just like the one he sent me tonight! If John Constantine’s theory of synchronicity holds up, Alec should be receiving the ‘Valentine’ I sent him right about now.”